Northern movement of ‘Aspen Acres’ fire prompts mandatory evacuations south of Florence in Fremont County
FREMONT COUNTY, Colo, (KRDO) -- Despite fire crews increasing containment from zero to 14% in the "Aspen Acres" fire over the weekend, the intensity of flames on the north side of the burn zone raised the risk to residents north of the Custer/Fremont County line.
As a result, authorities elevated the status from pre-evacuation to mandatory evacuation late Sunday along ten miles of Highway 67 from just south of Florence in Fremont County to the junction of Highway 96, near Wetmore in Custer County.
Flames were visible in the distance before dawn Monday from the newest checkpoint on Highway 67 at the County Road 100 intersection.
Just before noon, National Guard personnel moved the checkpoint farther south to the County Road 15 intersection -- where the previous checkpoint had been when the area had been on pre-evacuation status last Thursday.
"We got the mandatory evacuation order around 8 Sunday night," said evacuee Dave Smith. "It was a bit surprising, but we were prepared for it. It's a mess, but it happens."
Many evacuees evacuated so suddenly that they didn't have time to transport or tend to livestock, and when they tried to return on Monday morning, they weren't allowed in unless they had prior approval.
Smith was unable to return because he lives within the evacuation zone, but a neighbor, Bill Enoch, was allowed to come back because he lives on the zone's northern border along County Road 100.
"I know a lot of people," he explained. "But I'm not too concerned on how it's going. If I get in, I get in. If I don't, I don't."
A local couple returned from a weeklong trip out of town to learn of the evacuation; they had to wait at least 30 minutes to get a state trooper to escort them to their property.
Other evacuees tried to be more patient and understanding.
"I'm not frustrated," said Dave Falske. "I know everybody's doing the best they can --the military, the police, me -- just trying to hang on. But we do have stock up there, and I need to get them fed one way or the other."
A factor in the change to a mandatory evacuation was an increase in the fire's intensity Sunday, when strong winds from a passing thunderstorm pushed flames dangerously close to Wetmore.
Authorities used bulldozers to create fire breaks to protect homes and other structures before winds died down.
It's the second time since Thursday that crews scrambled to keep the fire out of Wetmore.
More resources also were needed on the east side of the fire, near Siloam Road, north of Highway 78; in the Beulah area, which has been constantly threatened; and southwest of Colorado City and Rye, into Huerfano County.
Some of the latter areas are in either pre-evacuation or mandatory evacuation status.
Around 1,100 firefighters from across the county are fighting the "Aspen Acres" fire.
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